News-Review named L.I.’s top community newspaper

BARBARAELLEN KOCH PHOTO | Times/Review staffers during an outdoor story meeting at company headquarters in Mattituck Thursday morning.

The Riverhead-News Review was recognized as the best community weekly newspaper in Nassau or Suffolk county at the Press Club of Long Island awards dinner in Woodbury last week.

It marks the first time the paper has won first place in the award category for best community weekly. The award hasn’t been offered in recent years.

“It was a real honor to be recognized for all the work we do out here, especially by our peers,” said News-Review editor Michael White. “Everyone in the company has a hand in making this newspaper a great one every week and this award is testament to that effort. We’re going to go for it again next year, too.”

To win the award, the News-Review was judged on editorial content in several full issues. The editions submitted for the nomination included coverage of Hurricane Sandy, the Manorville wildfires, the Riverhead girls basketball team’s run to the state semifinals and the lack of a long-term pediatric health care facility on Long Island.

The Southampton Press won second place in the category and the Merrick Herald claimed third.

It was a great night all around for East End media, with local news website RiverheadLocal.com winning four awards: first place best column for Denise Civiletti; first place in neighborhood/community narrative for Denise Civiletti and Peter Blasl; second place in neighborhood/community narrative for Denise Civiletti; and second place for best use of social media for Denise Civiletti, Peter Blasl, Katie Blasl, Courtney Blasl and Laurie Nigro.

“I think it’s a testament to the unique canvas Riverhead Town offers us as journalists,” said Grant Parpan, executive editor for Times/Review Newsgroup, which publishes the News-Review, The Suffolk Times and the Shelter Island Reporter. “The good, the bad, the ugly and the beautiful; this town has many stories worth telling. As journalists there’s no better place to cover. I think that’s why the staffs at multiple news organizations have chosen to work around the clock to deliver the news here over getting a good night’s rest.”

Several other past Times/Review staffers and contributors claimed awards last Wednesday night including photographer Randee Daddona of Newsday, Matt Bodkin of the Long Island Business News, Chris Vaccaro of Sachem Report and Peggy Spellman Hoey of the Long Island Advance.

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